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In terms of yardage, UCLA’s defense enjoyed its best game of the season by holding USC to 314 total yards. That’s 6 yards fewer than the Bruins allowed in a 37-10 win over Cal.

And the performances came from all over. Defensive end Cassius Marsh had consecutive sacks in the first half to personally kill a USC drive. Linebacker Eric Kendricks led the Bruins with 11 tackles and added a sack.

Linebacker Anthony Barr had two sacks, forced a fumble and had another tackle for loss. Nose tackle Kenny Clark also had one of the Bruins’ six sacks.

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“Our defense played their butts off,” Mora said. “We kept it simple, we played hard, we got after the quarterback. They ran the ball well on us, and then we kind of got that under control.

“It’s no secret to playing good defense. It’s about being assignment perfect, playing a great technique, then it’s just setting your hair on fire and throwing a fit and going to the football and that’s what we did.”

The Bruins’ six sacks were a season best. They had only 22 in the 11 previous games.

Lee, Bailey undecided

Although wide receiver Marqise Lee is expected to turn pro, he said he did not know what he would do yet.

“I haven’t thought about it. I need to talk to my mom,” Lee said. “I think I’ll decide after the bowl game. At this point I’m lost.”

Bailey said he wants to make a decision before the bowl game. He probably is leaning toward turning pro.

“I’m going to talk to my parents (today) and I’ll talk to people like (athletic director) Pat Haden and (senior associate athletic director) J.K. McKay. If I like what I hear, I’ll make the critical decision.”

Bowl outlook

With the loss, the Trojans are expected to go to the Las Vegas Bowl. Representatives from the Holiday and Alamo bowls were at the game but neither is believed to be interested after USC lost. UCLA is expected to go to the Sun Bowl, which would place the Trojans in Las Vegas.

Special performance

The Bruins found a way to avoid USC special-teams phenom Soma Vainuku and rack up big yards, particularly on kickoff returns.

Ishmael Adams, in only his second game as a kick returner, took three kickoffs back for 130 yards, averaging 43.3 per return. His 46-yarder came after USC had closed the gap to 21-14 in the third quarter and set UCLA up with a short field, leading to quarterback Brett Hundley’s second touchdown run.

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The Bruins also took advantage of a 15-yard punt by USC’s Kris Albarado in the first quarter. Taking over at the USC 48, UCLA needed only seven plays to reach the end zone for the first touchdown of the day.

Efficiency expert

Hundley might have played his best game of the season. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 208 yards with no interceptions and also ran 13 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns.

“There were a lot of plays to be made and we made a lot of plays today,” Hundley said. “The O-line did a great job today, the receivers balled out. They tried to go cover-1 on us most of the game and our receivers got open all game long. I was just dishing the ball. It was easy when I just had to take three steps and throw the ball.”

He also wanted to dish out the credit when he was asked if it was his best game.

“It’s hard to say. It was a great game,” Hundley said, “I’m proud but obviously no credit to myself. I give all the credit to the offensive line. Everything starts in the trenches. You win and you lose in the trenches.

“Our receivers got open, they made plays and I just got the ball to them.”